2,000 liters of fake milk seized and destroyed in Lahore

District General Halal Food Authority takes action against adulteration and fraud in Thokar area

PUNJAB/ LAHORE:

Authorities in Lahore carried out a major crackdown in the Thokar area on suppliers involved in selling fake milk in the name of cow and buffalo milk. Around 2,000 litres of adulterated milk were seized and destroyed, and a case has been registered against the offenders.

The supplier’s tanker, numbered LXK-7964, was intercepted while preparing to supply the fake milk to local shops early in the morning. “On inspection, powder, chemicals, substandard ghee, and fake thickening agents were recovered from the site,” said DG Food Authority, Asim Javed.

Javed stated that on-spot tests failed, confirming the milk was adulterated. Laboratory checks revealed the milk contained water, powder, and vegetable ghee, which can be extremely harmful if consumed in excess.

The DG urged citizens to report any fraudulent activity related to milk and dairy products by calling 1223 or messaging the Food Authority’s Facebook page.

“An international-standard policy is being introduced to ensure the supply of pure milk,” said Javed. He added that, under the directives of the Chief Minister of Punjab, strict action is being taken against anyone involved in food adulteration or fraud, and all available resources are being deployed to eliminate the production and sale of fake milk.

Last week, a nationwide network involved in the production of synthetic milk was dismantled in Haripur's Hattar Industrial Zone, where three suspects were taken into custody. The group had allegedly been supplying adulterated milk to Punjab and several other provinces.

Officials said that during a late-night raid, authorities sealed a factory accused of producing hundreds of thousands of litres of fake and hazardous milk. Three individuals were arrested at the scene. Authorities vowed that such "food terrorists" would not be spared under any circumstances.

Director General (DG) Wasif Saeed reported that the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Food Safety and Halal Food Authority uncovered the network during an intelligence-led operation targeting the manufacture of counterfeit, adulterated and unsafe milk.

Director Operations of the Halal Food Authority Yusuf and Director Technical Dr Abdul Sattar Shah, supported by a specialised food safety team, raided the premises and arrested the suspects, originally from Bahawalnagar, Punjab, who were caught red-handed inside the factory.

Read: PFA unearths counterfeit milk unit

Briefing the media, DG Saeed explained that after action by the Punjab Food Authority (PFA), the group had shifted its operations to K-P, where it was then intercepted. He noted that the crackdown was prompted by intelligence shared initially with the PFA and later acted upon by its K-P counterpart.

He said that large quantities of chemicals, raw materials and heavy machinery used in the manufacture of synthetic milk were recovered from the facility. Tankers filled with unsafe milk were also seized and destroyed.

He added that the factory had been operating illegally and supplying adulterated milk to major cities, including Islamabad and Rawalpindi. The network was allegedly producing and distributing almost 100,000 litres of synthetic milk each day.

The factory was sealed during the operation, the manager and two others were arrested, and all machinery was taken into government custody. An FIR was lodged, and legal proceedings are underway.

The DG further stated that the Haripur Food Authority's district team had been suspended for negligence. He reaffirmed that those endangering public health would face strict action and that harsh penalties awaited such "food terrorists."